NSO Group Appeals WhatsApp Spyware Injunction

NSO Group has filed an appeal to overturn a U.S. federal court's permanent injunction that prohibits the company from targeting WhatsApp with its Pegasus spyware. The injunction, issued by Judge Phyllis Hamilton in the Northern District of California, found that NSO Group had improperly used WhatsApp's infrastructure to target approximately 1,400 users with zero-click exploits. NSO argues that the ruling misapplies the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and mischaracterizes how Pegasus operates, claiming that the order could force the company out of business and disrupt law enforcement and intelligence operations that rely on its technology.

In its motion to stay the injunction pending appeal, NSO Group emphasized the "catastrophic" and "irreparable" harm the order would cause, including the requirement to destroy code that interacts with WhatsApp. The company also contends that the injunction would prevent it from engaging in lawful business activities, such as developing and licensing products for authorized government investigations, while leaving competitors unaffected. NSO has recently appointed a former U.S. envoy to Israel as executive chairman and confirmed new U.S. investors, underscoring the high stakes of the legal battle for its future operations and partnerships.